Eye-opener-in-malang-adventure-only-200-freshwater-crocs

M’LANG, North Cotabato—The return to its natural habitat of Malang, the freshwater crocodile captured here on April 12, highlighted efforts to conserve crocodiles, raising awareness of the endangered status of crocodiles and of the need to protect the place they live in.

Some town leaders expressed sadness over the return of Malang to the Liguasan Marsh.

“If I had my way, I want to keep Malang to show our place is rich in endangered species and biodiversity,” said Freddie Sales, former councilor. “But we have laws to obey,” said Sales, who was one of several men who carried Malang, tied to a stretcher-like contraption, to a truck that brought the crocodile back to the wild.

Sales was seen wiping off tears as officials of the town bade Malang goodbye.

At the banks of the Liguasan Marsh, where Malang was captured, Malang was untied. He quickly glided into the water as a sendoff team and at least 250 villagers roared and applauded.

250 villagers, environmentalists and local execs send off croc

DUNGGUAN, M’lang, Philippines—Malang, the largest freshwater crocodile captured here on April 12, is finally home. Malang, obviously got a grand welcome from his own kind as a group of smaller reptiles was on the same spot where he was set free around 5 p.m. on Friday, officials said.

“Fresh footprints of smaller crocodiles were visible (at the edge) of the marsh; obviously Malang was not alone in the wild,” Mayor Joselito Pinol told the Inquirer.

“Maybe, they were aware of Malang’s homecoming and waited for him but ran away when they saw humans accompanying the Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis),” he added in jest while pointing at crocodile footprints on the mud.

Malang was also visibly excited at being home. Before his release, Piñol said, he had shown some “excitement” through body movements.

ang gears up for visit to the Holy Cross shrine

Tuesday, 15 April 2014 11:10 | Written by Williamor A. Magbanua | | |

MLANG, North Cotabato--Thousands are again expected to troop to the Shrine of the Holy Cross in Barangay Nuevabida here during the Holy Week prompting local authorities to start laying out security preparations.

Sr. Insp. Sunny Leoncito, Mlang chief of police is tapping the Barangay Peacekeeping Action team (BPAT) to secure all roads leading to the hill where the Holy Cross put up by the Oblate of mary Immaculate (OMI) missionaries is located.

Members of the local police and Philippine Army troopers will also positioned at the top to secure the pilgrims during the two-day visit especially those who opt to spend the night at the shrine.

Mayor Joselito Pinol has also instructed the local health unit to set up medical stations at the foot hill and its summit to attend to the medical needs of visitors.

Pinol said the barangay government of Nuevabida, recorded at least 35, 000 visitors to the shrine during the last years' Holy Week celebration.

Fishers who caught 8-foot crocodile want P40,000 cash for the beast

Tuesday, 15 April 2014 11:05 | Written by Williamor A. Magbanua | | |

North Cotabato, Philippines – A group of fishermen caught a crocodile in the village of Dunguan here on Saturday but demanded P40,000 in cash in exchange for turning over the beast to authorities, local officials said.

The crocodile, some eight feet long, was trapped in the fishnet set up in the Liguasan Marsh.

Hernand Dapudong, a member of the municipal disaster risk reduction and management council, said the fishermen, led by a certain “Kap” would only turn over the reptile to authorities in exchange for P40,000 cash.

Under environmental laws, all endangered and protected species inadvertently caught from the wilds should be surrendered to the custody of environment officers.

Dapudong and town councilor Francis Biag tried but failed to convince the group to turn over the crocodile.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources still has to act on the problem, according to authorities.

Dapudong fears that the crocodile would die due to stress if it remains in the fishermen’s custody.

DENR tells LGU to turn over crocodile to care facility

MLANG, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office in Kidapawan City has called on the local government here to turn over the freshwater crocodile that was accidentally trapped by a group of fishermen near the Liguasan Marsh on Saturdayafternoon.

Fatima Magulama, DENR chief of protected area and wildlife, said if the local government wanted to take care of the eight-foot beast, it should have a facility that could accommodate the animal.

Magulama also told the local government of Mlang to write a letter to the Protected Area Wildlife Coastal Zone Section (PAWCZS) reiterating its intention to take custody of the crocodile. She, however, added that if the reptile was not injured, it should be returned to its natural habitat.

Mayor Joselito Piñol said the local government has taken temporary custody of the animal while waiting for the experts from the DENR to check its condition.

“If the beast is healthy, then there is no reason for not returning it to the wild,” Piñol said.

The crocodile was temporarily placed in the municipal nursery and has been placed under observation.

The crocodile was trapped in a fishnet set up by fishermen, who earlier demanded P40,000 in exchange for the reptile.

Piñol said they did not pay to get hold of the crocodile.

The Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) team was sent to the place where the crocodile was captured to orient residents on laws governing the handling of wildlife.

“I believe there are plenty of crocodiles in the area that is why we want to preserve it,” Mayor Pinol said.